Northern Ireland's Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie has discussed possible improvements to 'unacceptable' social dwellings in the Parkside area of north Belfast.

The area contains 93 dwellings, split between public and private ownership. Most of the houses were built in the early 1900s.

Ms Ritchie's department is currently examining proposals to improve the housing conditions for all residents in the community.

During the visit of the area, Minister Ritchie met with Thomas O'Kane, Chairperson of the Newington-Parkside-Castleton Resident's Group and was shown some of the worst of the housing that residents have to endure.

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Ms Ritchie told residents that she was determined to improve their housing irrespective of whether that involved full demolition and redevelopment or a mixture of redevelopment and refurbishment.

"My interest is in meeting housing need, irrespective of what that need is. I am not opposed to full scale redevelopment if that is the right way forward. I have seen for myself some of the awful conditions that people here are having to live in and in the 21st Century, it is simply unacceptable," she said.

Ms Ritchie said the Executive needs to make housing its priority and release the funding that will not just residents in Parkside, but for those in Upper Long Streets and others living in housing stress.

The Minister was accompanied by Jim Black from Newington Housing Association and heard plans for new developments in the area that could be started as part of the 1,750 new homes the Minister has promised will be built this year.

(PR/JM)